Ideal for work, ideal for families
Resene Paints Limited General Manager Nick Nightingale says the Hutt is “an ideal region for working and an ideal place for families”. Resene has had its head office, warehouse and water-based products plant located in Naenae since 1992.
Because the Hutt Valley is sheltered by the surrounding hills, the weather is generally warmer and less windy than in Wellington City. We like living here because of the:
- Excellent schools and healthcare
- Great public transport and ease of getting around
- Affordable homes minutes from work
- Five regional parks close by for walking, tramping and biking
- Best beaches in the region
- Unique specialty shopping
- Travel times – we're just 15 minutes from downtown Wellington
We love the outdoors
If you’re into outdoor activities, you can head to the hills and enjoy our walking, tramping and mountain biking tracks, or relax at the beach or by the river.
We’ve got dozens of tracks and trails through fantastic native bush areas, along kilometres of coastline around Wellington Harbour, and along the Hutt River.
Explore what’s on offer outdoors at www.huttvalleynz.com.
Events, culture and shopping
There’s always plenty to do in the Hutt – check out the latest events and activities.
There’s lots to keep the family busy, with more than 50 playgrounds, 25 parks, six swimming pools and eight libraries [link: libraries]. We also have a great range of shopping options, from the boutique store village in Petone to the region’s premier shopping destination, Westfield Queensgate.
If you’re looking for a little culture, visit our two museums, TheNewDowse and the Petone Settlers Museum, and check out the galleries in Petone. The city’s cultural past is also celebrated at Maori Treasures, and new art forms are explored at The Learning Connexion.
Easy transport
It’s easy to get to and around the city, with an excellent bus and train network and loads of low-cost or free parking. You’re just 15 minutes' drive from Wellington City and 30 minutes from the international airport. Wide flat roads across the city make it easy to commute by bike. Staff will enjoy living minutes from work with easy travel to and from their jobs.
A great place to bring up kids
We have excellent schools, healthcare, clubs and social activities, with plenty of room for recreation and hobbies to suit all the family.
Early childhood and schools
Hutt City has over 40 early childhood learning centres, more than 50 primary schools including public, private, religious-based and special needs, and ten secondary schools. Here is how you can find out more:
View all schools in the Hutt on the Ministry of Education website.
Tertiary Education
Hutt City is home to the Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec), The Open Polytechnic and specialist providers like The Learning Connexion International School of Art and Creativity.
Other tertiary institutions are a few kilometers away in Wellington City, including:
See our settlement support section for more help in finding education and training.
Affordable housing
You can choose from a wide range of housing options, from stunning coastal homes to comfortable hillside family homes or handy city apartments. Prices vary and there’s still plenty of affordable housing.
Buying a house
Hutt City has an excellent range of quality houses for sale. In general, these have larger sections and are better value for money than houses in the inner suburbs of Wellington.
Average house price as at September 2010
Hutt City $352,000
New Zealand $354,000
Wellington $496,000
These figures are 12 month averages sourced from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand.
Renting a house
We have a large range of rental accommodation. Prices vary by house size, suburb and access to services. Find out the going rent for suburbs in Lower Hutt on the Department of Building and Housing website.
Find a home to rent or buy in Lower Hutt
These sites are good places to start your search:
See our settlement support section for more help in finding a house to buy or rent.
Help for new migrants
If you’re new to New Zealand, our Settlement Support Service can help you find local service and support agencies and connect you with community groups from your homeland. The Settlement Support Service also runs workshops about living in New Zealand and has a series of factsheets to help you settle in. Find out more on how we can help you to settle here in the Hutt.
We pride ourselves on being relaxed and welcoming. Hutt City was the site of the country's first organised European settlement and is now at the cutting edge of creative innovation.